Viking Genes Family Reunion

Linda Grains first reached out to Viking Genes in October 2024 after hearing Prof Jim Flett Wilson discuss new findings on BBC Radio Shetland’s Good Evening Shetland. The research highlighted 67 genetic variants linked to disease across the UK, including six enriched in Shetland.

In December 2025, we heard from Linda again. The Sutherlands of Voe family ‘doo’ raised an incredible £1,015 in support of Viking Genes Shetland. Their generosity is deeply appreciated.

Read their story and what inspired their fundraising efforts.

Why did you join Viking Genes?

Quite a few of the family joined Viking Genes back in the very early days at the time of the initial Shetland research project, myself (Linda) included.  We felt it was a very important and valuable study to contribute to and be part of.

Why did you decide to fundraise for Viking Genes?

Prof Jim Wilson launched the appeal to raise funds to help continue the research into the genetics of Scottish Islands communities in 2024.  The appeal highlighted that this type of research is not funded by academic research grants so, understanding the importance of it, people in Shetland have since done a number of fund-raising events to help enable it to continue.

How did you raise money?

Danielle Robertson, Richard Grains and myself organised a family gathering which was held on 20 September 2025, bringing together over 100 descendants and spouses of the Sutherland family of Voe, Shetland. It was the third such gathering since 2005. We had previously agreed that any surplus funds after the event would be donated to charity and this year, we decided to support Viking Genes Shetland, knowing that it would help the appeal. We held a supper dance in the Voe Hall and enjoyed a great evening of conviviality with excellent music to dance to, games for the bairns, refreshments, a rolling slide show of family photos and a raffle.

Tell us about your thoughts on screening the community you are supporting? 

Screening the community is a vital part of the study. We have already seen the benefits of the research for people we know and we have also read their remarkable stories in the media, seeing first-hand the effect it has had in their lives.  If more people are screened it can only help further the knowledge and insights already gained and will hopefully lead to further discoveries.

This generous amount will be used for the Viking Genes Shetland – Shetland Community Screening Project, which will offer genetic screening to 5000 Shetlanders for up to 50 important disease-causing variants covering all major heritable conditions prevalent in Shetland, alongside some other common Scottish disease-causing variants, such as those causing cystic fibrosis and haemochromatosis.